Adjustable supporting device



y 51 1942- J. w. DOLLISON ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1941lNVENTOR m MW ATTO R N EYS Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATEN T FFI-CE.

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING DEVICE John W; Dollison, Newcomerstown, OhioApplication May 5,1341, Serial No. 391,989

4 Glaims.

This invention relates toadjustable supporting devices and its generalobject is to provide a device in the form of a prop that isprimarilydesigned for clotheslines or the like, and which can be, adjusted as-toheight, in an easy and expeditious manner, yet is held in any adjustedposition, against any possibility ofv casual adjustment or relativemovement of the parts, thusassuring a positive supporting function witha maximum load.

An important object is to provide a supporting device for any suitablepurpose; that includes at least two elongated sectionsconnected togetherfor longitudinal slidable movement, and novel locking means for normallyholding the sections against relative movement, thelocking means beingmounted on one. section and associated with the. other section to setupa wedging and biting action therewith.

A further objectis to'provide a supporting de-- vice of the characterset fort-h, that.-is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing. where-- in like characters denote like orcorresponding. parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my supporting device constructed in theform. of a clothesline prop, with parts broken away and in section, andi illustrates the locking. means in normal or locked: position.

Figure 2 is afragmentary view somewhat similar to Figure l, butillustrates the locking means in released position.

Figure 3 is a front view of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure1, 1ooking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lockingwedge member.

Referring to the. drawing in detail, it will be noted, as above setforth, that I have illustrated my supporting device as being. in theform ofa clothesline prop, but I want it understood that. the importantfeature is the lock construction and its association with two slidablyconnected sections, for use as a support, brace or strut, and that thedevice is not essentially a clothesline prop.

In any event, the structure shown includes an elongated base or lowersection I and an elongated upper section 2, both being of crosssectional rectangular shape in the form shown, but they may be of anycross sectional shape, providing each includes at least one fiatlongitudinal face, preferably for the entire length thereof. Thesections I and 2 are connected together in face to face relation bysubstantially U-shaped strap collars, there being two collars 3' fixedto the lower section in spaced relation to each other adjacent to theupper end thereof, with theupper section slidably mounted therein andone collar 4 fixed to the upper section adjacent its lower end forslidable movement on the lower section. By that construction, it will beseen that the upper section: 2' is adjustable longitudinally on thelower section I, to vary the lengtlr of the prop and that the collar 4is engageable with the lowermost collar 3 to limit upwardv movement ofthe upper section, so as to prevent removal thereof from the. upper endof the lower section.

The upper section'has a notch 5 in its upper end that provides a seatfor receiving a clothes.- line, and a notch is preferablyoutwardly'flared toward its upper end to facilitate the insertion of theline therein. The lowersection is preferably reduced at its lower endto. provide ground penetrating means 6, and while the opposite or innerends of the sections are shown as being-flat, they may be beveled; withthe sharp edges of the bevel innermost, as will be apparent.

The locking means for normally holding the upper section 2 in adjustedposition against movement relative to the lower section I includes asubstantially wedge shaped block 1 that is slidably mounted withitsthick end uppermost in a wedge shaped recess 8 in the lower sectionadjacent to the upper end thereof; the recess opening through the innerface of the lower section withits inclined wall 9 extending from saidface, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the recess is of amplelength and depth to allow for free sliding movement of the fiat innerface" of the block on the inclined wall 9, for disposal of the inclinedouter face of the block into and out of wedging engagement with theinner face ofthe upper member to lockand release the latter, as: will beapparent. The wedge'memberor block is preferably provided with a crosssectional substantially V-shaped groove I0 extending transversely of theouter face thereof to provide relatively sharp upper and loweredges'that tend to bite theupper section for cooperation with thewedging action to prevent movement thereof.

The wedge member is moved tolocked and released positions by a handlever ii that includes an arcuate inner portion I2 extending through andpivoted in a slot l3 that opens into the recess 8 and through the outerface of the lower member, as best shown in Figure 1, and the wedgemember is provided with a slot l 4 extending along the vertical centerthereof and within which is mounted the inner end of the arcuate portionthat sets up a oamming action on the upper and lower walls of the slotto bring about the sliding movement of the wedge member in its recess,from and to its locked and released positions.

The pivot pin 5 for the hand lever extends through the slot l3 and thearcuate portion 12, as best shown in Figure 5 and the lever outwardly ofthe'arcuate portion is straight to provide a convenient hand grippingportion.

The wedge member is held in normal locked position against the uppersection by a coil spring I 6 that has one end connected adjacent to theupper end of the lower section by suitable fastening means, such as ascrew 11, and the opposite endof the spring is connected to a shoulderedupper portion formed on the lever, so that the spring will constantlyexert an upward pulling action upon the lever for normally urging andholding the wedge member in its locked position, as clearly shown inFigure 1.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawing, it is believedthat the operation of my supporting device or prop as shown, will beobvious, but it might be mentioned that when it is desired to adjust theheight thereof, the wedge member is released from the upper section,merely by moving and holding the hand lever downwardly against theactionof the spring I6. The upper section is then moved to the desiredadjusted position, and thence the lever is released for restoring thewedge member to its normal locked position. When so positioned, it willbe further obvious that movement of the upper section relative to thelower section is practically impossible, due to the combined wedging'andibiting action of the wedge member against the upper section.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes: may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A supporting device comprising a pair of elongated sections, meansconnecting the sections together in face to face engagement for relativelongitudinal slidable movement to vary the length of the device, one ofsaid sections having a recess therein opening through the inner facethereof, a wedge member slidably mounted in the recess to set up awedging action on the other section to hold the sections againstrelative movement, a hand lever connected to the wedge member for movingthe latter to locked and released positions, and a spring connected tothe recessed section and the hand lever to urge and hold the wedgemember in locked position. I

2. A supporting device comprising a pair of elongated sections,collarsfixed to and connecting the sectionstogether in face to faceengagement for relative longitudinal slidable movement to vary thelength of the device, one of said sections having a wedge shaped recesstherein opening through the inner face thereof and being provided withan inclined inner wall, a wedge member slidably mounted on the inclinedwall and having sharp edges for said member to set up a wedging andbiting action on the other section to hold the sections against relativemovement, said wedge member and recessed section having slots thereinregistering with the recess, a handlever extending into and pivoted inthe slot of the section and mounted in the slot of the wedge member formoving the latter to locked and released positions, and a springconnected to the recessed section and the hand lever to urge and holdthe wedge member in locked position.

3. A supporting device in the form of a prop for clotheslines,comprising upper and lower elongated sections, means connecting thesections together in face to face engagement for movement of the uppersection relative to the lower section, the upper section having a notchin the upper end thereof providing a seat for a clothesline, and thelower section having a beveled lower end providing ground penetratingmeans, the

' lower section having a recess adjacent the upper end thereof andopening through its inner face, a wedge member slidably mounted in therecess to set up a wedging action on the upper section to 'hold thelatter against movement relative to the lower section, said wedge memberand lower section having slots therein registering with the recess, ahand lever including an arcuate portion extending into and pivoted inthe slot of the lower section and mounted in the slot of the wedgemember for moving the latter to locked and released positions, saidlever having a straight outer portion providing hand gripping means, anda coil spring connected to the lower section and the hand lever to urgeand hold the wedge member in locked position.

4. A supporting device, in the form of a prop for clotheslines,comprising upper and lower elongated sections, collars fixed to andconnecting the sections together in faceto face engagement for movementof the upper section relative to the lower section, said upper sectionhaving a notch in the upper end thereof providing a seat for aclothesline, said lower section having a reduced lower end providingground penetrating means, said lower section having a wedge shapedrecess therein adjacent its upper end and opening through the inner facethereof, said recess having an inclined inner wall, a wedge memberslidably mounted on the inclined wall and having a groove extendingtransversely in its outer face to provide sharp edges for said member toset up a wedging and biting action on the upper section to hold thelatter against movement, said wedge member and upper section havingslots therein registering with the recess, a hand lever including anarcuate portion extending into and pivoted in the slot of the lowersection and mounted in the slot of the wedge member to set up a cammingaction for moving the wedge member to locked and released positions, anouter straight portion for the lever and providing hand gripping means,and a coil spring connected to the lower section adjacent its upper endand to the hand lever to urge and hold the wedge member in lockedposition.

JOHN W. DOLLISON.

